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IMPACT Wrestling's Hard to Kill was an epic event with a historic main event match. Tessa Blanchard proved critics wrong and broke down barriers when she captured the IMPACT World Championship, becoming the first woman and youngest performer to ever hold the title.
Tonight, we were given highlights of the event, post-match thoughts, and an exclusive interview with the Undeniable One. However, there were also three matches spread out through the show.
Ace Austin defended his X-Division Championship against Fallah Bahh, Moose and Eddie Edwards at a House of Hardcore event, the footage of which was shown in full tonight. Johnny Swinger and Joey Ryan finally got their hands on each other after months of pranks gone wrong.
But first, an exciting four-way tag team match featuring some of the best tag teams on IMPACT's roster. With Rich Swann injured, the winner of this match could very well be next in line for a shot at The North and their IMPACT Tag Team Titles.
The Rascalz (Dez & Wentz) vs The Desi Hit Squad (Mahabali Shera & Rohit Raju) vs Reno Scum (Adam Thornstowe & Luster the Legend) vs TJP & Daga
The eight-man "Lucha style" match kicked off with an all-out brawl, leaving Dez and Rohit Raju in the ring. Wentz rolled in for some tandem offense against the Squad's X-Division star. As he was dumped out, veteran TJP slid in to take on the Rascals two-on-one.
Though it started well, TJP couldn't keep up with the pace of Dez and Wentz. Shera clobbered them both, though, leading to a war between himself and Luster the Legend. Thornstowe wasn't too far behind, allowing Reno Scum toss Shera to the floor following their own version of Poetry in Motion.
Daga was next, but a German suplex/double foot stomp combination left him on his back. Thornstowe put TJP in the tree of woe while Luster picked Daga up for Razor's Edge. Daga escaped, taking out both members of Reno Scum with a series of kicks. The it Squad traded places with Scum, with Shera directing traffic while manhandling anyone that stood in his way.
Dez dropped the ropes, sending the big man over. The Rascals set Raju up for the backbreaker/double stomp, but couldn't get the pin after connecting. Reno Scum took over again, with Luster and Thornstowe dumping several competitors to the floor and following up with dives.
Rohit Raju sent Dez onto the crowd outside, leaving him inside wit Daga. El Jefe stunned Raju with a superkick and planted him with a sit-out powerbomb. Dez broke it up with a superkick and he and Wentz fell onto Daga with a senton bomb/spiral tap combination. Shera managed to get in just in time, though, and planted Dez with a sky high while Raju took care of the rest.
Results: The Desi Hit Squad defeated The Rascalz via pinfall.
Ace Austin was seen backstage talking to someone on the phone about his victory over Trey at Hard to Kill. Austin has been on a roll since debuting in 2019, and after capturing the X-Division Championship was on a whole different level. In regard to the upcoming four-way match with Fallah Bahh, Eddie Edwards and Moose? Well, Aces Up.
We saw post-match footage from Hard to Kill after the IMPACT Tag Team Title match. Willie Mack was down on himself for failing to pick up the titles by himself, believing that he let Rich Swann down. Swann followed him and said that his performance that night should prove just how good he really is. When he's healed, Swann said he and Mack are definitely taking the tag team titles. The encouraging words from his friend really calmed Mack down, and the two hugged as we cut to the next segment.
Eddie Edwards, Call Your Shot Trophy in hand, talked about his incredible war with Michael Elgin at Hard to Kill. With that, Edwards has an official shot at any championship of his choosing any time he wants to cash in. But that's for later. Tonight, he'll knock off Fallah Bahh, Moose, and Ace Austin and continue to build a winning streak.
Michael Elgin responded by talking about his time in Japan working with Pro Wrestling NOAH. A place Eddie Edwards used to call home, Elgin said that he fans used to talk about Edwards, but now they're too focused on the Unbreakable One.
Rob Van Dam was seen in a hotel room surrounded in rose petals. The Whole F'n Show bragged about breaking down the Machine before Katie Forbes came into frame. Van Dam said it's unfair for anyone to hate him for having such a great life. He's just killing it in the ring, in real life, and financially. And we all live through RVD vicariously, because all of wrestling is essentially a tribute to him. Sadly, we saw way too much of RVD, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend's girlfriend.
Ken Shamrock was interviewed about his war with Madman Fulton at Hard to Kill. The World's Most Dangerous Man had a lot of respect for the pure strength and ability of the big man but felt that he was being held back by the former IMPACT World Champion Sami Callihan.
Joey Ryan vs Johnny Swinger
Ryan kicked off the match with a request, demanding that Swinger touch "It". Swinger vehemently declined. A wrist lock saw Ryan nearly bring Swinger's hand towards "It", but Swinger managed to stay away.
Eventually, Swinger teased touching "It", but then caught Ryan with a shot to the throat. An atomic drop, though, injured Swinger's knee as opposed to Ryan's groin. He responded by sending Ryan into the turnbuckle.
Swinger discombobulated Ryan by ringing his inner ear before bringing him to the floor with a chin lock. However, he made a serious mistake when he tried to headbutt Ryan's groin. Finally, Swinger was forced to touch "It" and was sent flying, with ref in hand.
Ryan would ultimately finish Swinger with the Sweet Tooth Music, though, just as the ref recovered.
Results: Joey Ryan defeated Johnny Swinger via pinfall.
X-Division Championship: Fallah Bahh vs Moose vs Eddie Edwards vs Ace Austin
Moose and Fallah Bahh took out the other two men before taking part in a clash of the titans. A springboard crossbody knocked Bahh out, but Eddie recovered and took Moose to the floor with a series of strikes. Ace Austin rocked Edwards with a step-up enziguri but was dumped to the floor.
Moose and Bahh were again the only two men standing, The two traded punches and chops. After colliding several times, a double clothesline left both men down on the outside. Edwards and Austin rolled back in where Edwards got the better of the "XXX"-Division Champion wit a reverse atomic drop.
Edwards chopped Austin's chest till it was beet red, then did the same for Bahh and Moose. With Moose and Austin left on the outside, Edwards went for a suicide dive. Bahh demanded to go first, and the big man sent Austin and Moose flying back to the entrance.
Edwards dove onto his three opponents from the top as we cut to commercial.
Back from the break, Edwards dropped Austin with the Backpack Stunner. Austin kicked out. As they made it to their feet, Bahh bowled them over, then crashed into them with body splashes. Moose took Bahh up top for a sky high superplex, but before he could get up Austin hit a rolling senton off the top for a near fall.
A face wash in the corner also nearly awarded Austin a pin on Edwards. The champion targeted Moose for the Fold, only to get shot into the sky. Edwards was also taken out, as was Bahh who was met with a spear as we took another commercial.
As we came back in, Moose and Eddie were seen in a chop fest. Moose delivered a huge headbutt and a discus lariat, only to be hit with a spinning heel kick from Austin. Fallah Bahh caught the champion with a sidewalk slam. However, as he moved towards the top rope, Austin managed to connect with a super Fold for the win.
Results: Ace Austin defeated Fallah Bahh via pinfall.
New IMPACT World Champion Tessa Blanchard sat down for an interview with Josh Mathews to end the show. Blanchard said that she knew exactly who she was stepping in the ring with, but the Draw didn't really know who he was facing at Hard To Kill.
When asked if she thought that she'd finally rid herself of oVe for good, Blanchard said that she knows it's not over. Sami Callihan is upset, but it was all about breaking barriers for women in the sport. She has a target on her back now, but she's ready to carry the torch.
Mathews called Blanchard the greatest third generation, male or female, to ever step in the ring. Blanchard said she's willing to step in the ring with everyone, man or woman. Before she could continue, Callihan interrupted via TV screen hanging in the background.
Callihan said that he's the only real history maker in IMPACT Wrestling, and is the sole man responsible for revitalizing the company. He carried IMPACT on his back for years, especially in the past five months.
Blanchard is the champion everyone wants, Callihan said, but he's the one that the company needs. Blanchard responded by saying that she'd take him on anywhere, anytime, which is when Callihan revealed he was in the same building.
That wasn't true, however. Callihan baited her into the production room where he again appeared on several screens, revealing that she would never see him coming.
